Can it be done ?

[dalton565]

I have been skiing for about a year now and have got very comfortable at it. So my next step is wakeboarding

I borrowed a friends wakeboard and took it out for a day. And well

It was a disaster

I pointed the board sideways told the driver to hit it, but all the that seemed to be happening was i kept getting pulled under the water. I must of tried it 20 times and i submarined everytime and had to let go of the rope.

I spoke to a guy and he told me this is because you have no tower, you need the tower to pull u up and out of the water.

So.. Is this correct ? My boat is a 17ft speedboat (fletcher) with a 75hp mercury 1999 2 stroke. Pulls a skier of the water with ease

Currently im just using the ski pole. Should i give up on the wakeboarding and just stick with the skiing ??

 

[arjay2008]

Re: Can it be done ?

Learning behind a 75 horse might be hard... I'd suggest keepin the boat as light as possible or trying to learn behind something that can get you up faster if you have access. You don't necessarily need a tower, but it definitely helps. I tried learning behind a heavily loaded 115hp and it didnt work out so well, but it was a lot easier behind something with a tower and more power.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Can it be done ?

I am NOT an expert, just started last year.

If you can get up on ski's you can get up on the board. One thing different, on ski's everyone talks about keeping the tips up. This isn't required on the board, in fact the board will go under water when you start.

In the water keep the board perpendicular to the boat. Keep your knees bent, like you are sitting in a chair. When the driver hits it and you start to get pulled, point your toes. At this point the board may be completely submerged, but don't freak out, the board and you will come out of the water. only when you are completely up do you want to turn the board parallel to the boat.

The problem I had was trying to keep the board out of the water, and so I would press with my heels instead of the pointing my toes. This is my best tip from a guy that just learned.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Can it be done ?

Oh yeah, you do NOT need a tower to get up, it helps with landing the jumps but isn't required.

 

[72 Invader]

Re: Can it be done ?

What size board were you using? A larger board will be easier to pop out of the water.

It should be easier to get on top of the water with a wakeboard compared to skis. I start out with my butt as close to the board as possible and my elbows around my right knee (right foot forward for me). the board will turn towards the back of the boat as you speed up.

i usually start with a small bit of the board above water, and it never goes under for me.

good luck! Once you get up, keep the front edge up, or it's face plant time

 

[erlindbl]

Re: Can it be done ?

I water skiied for years before taking up wakeboarding. The first thing I can tell you is that, if you can get pulled out skiing with that boat, you can easily get pulled out wakeboarding. It takes much less effort. Like was written above, a waketower helps with jumping but is not necessary for getting up.

I had difficulty with the transition because I was trying to get up like I was water skiing. Where water skiing you want to keep the tip out of the water, you don't need to with wakeboarding. I was trying to keep the entire board perpendicular to the boat and was getting no where. Let the boad go under the water keeping it at a slight uphill angle to the boat. Number two, you don't have to have the driver hit it like you do with a water ski. A nice smooth accelleration will bring you right out of the water. The wakeboard has much more surface area and will pop right up.

Once you get the feel you will have it wired. Then the hard part is trying to ride it. It is a lot different than a water ski and takes more ballance when your moving.

 

[MI Hokie]

Re: Can it be done ?

First, the tower has nothing to do with getting up. The only other suggestion I can give is that the sooner you can turn the board sideways, the easier it will be on that 75 hp motor (and yourself).

Keep trying! You will get it, and it is tons of fun once you do.

 

[Mike1187]

Re: Can it be done ?

I only have a 50 HP on the back of my 16 footer, and Its not too bad getting out of the water on a wake board.. even with 4 other people in the boat, and lots of gear. make sure you experiment with which foot to put forward, I learned quickly that I can only get out of the hole with my left foot forward(even though I seem to balance better with my right foot forward)

I start with the board perpendicular to the boat, somewhere near the surface. Legs bent, and rope low. rather than waiting to be up before turning the board, I start to bring the board around and point it at the boat almost as soon as I start rising out of the water. I'd say the first 4 feet I get dragged a bit, then I can feel the load lighten up just a bit, and I start to turn the board as I'm rising out of the water, and I'm 3/4 out of the water within another 6 feet, and up and running smooth another 4-6 feet after that.

 

[amynbill]

Re: Can it be done ?

Let pressure work for you...big mistake many make when learning (or taking advice) is that the board will go under water for a while.

THis is misleading. The board itself should not submarine, but rather water should come up and over the board (plowing). In essence, yes it is under water, but it is not under the surface of the water if you were to draw a line across it.

As you feel pressure build, you want to "relieve" the pressure by turing your hips and consequently the board with dominant foot forward, and nose of board pointed out of the water. It is a learned "feel" of this de-pressurization. Keep a 60/40 weight ratio onto your back leg as you get pulled up.

DOnt pull on the rope, let the rope pull you. The boat should do all of the work. Do not use the rope as a pull up bar. You will have a lot of trouble in the beginning.

Then, learn to edge

 

[dalton565]

Re: Can it be done ?

Ok guys. Update time. Bought a wakeboard and took her out with my 75hp.

First attempt i was nowhere. Pushed with my legs and got nowehere.
Second time same again
Third time right try something new. This time i didnt push the boat started to come out nicely. i was like whoa got up flipped the board sideways, then straught off
Next time i lasted a little longer
After a few more goes i pretty much had, not difficult to get up at all really, in fact now i would say its easier than the skis.

Big difference between it and the skis i found is when your up the balance is a little more tricky but got it after a while.

Anyway it was a sucess, pretty decent wake also can do some small jumps (2ft), ideal for starting off. Already pricing mastercrafts !!!! LOL

 

[Geo2008]

Re: Can it be done ?

I am NOT an expert, just started last year.

If you can get up on ski's you can get up on the board. One thing different, on ski's everyone talks about keeping the tips up. This isn't required on the board, in fact the board will go under water when you start.

IN my opinion this is the particular part that a person switching from skis to wakeboard needs to understand when trying to get up.

You need to angle the board underwater so that is has a nice smooth angle towards the surface. The reason you are plowing so much water is because you have the angle wrong and are likely trying to keep your tip up.

When you are on a ski keeping your tip up, the angle of force is somewhat perpendicular, but on a wake board the force is distributed less direct manner sort of like an acute angle as opposed to an perpendicular angle.

 

[nine nine man]

Re: Can it be done ?

what you want to do is start off like you did, as the boat is excellerating, gradually let the board roll undernieth you while keeping fairly straight arms and staying in the crouch position untill ur ontop of the water.